Method of and apparatus for controlling pressure fluid



Oct. 11, 1938. R. BECK ET AL 2,133,073

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING PRESSURE FLUID s Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Deb. 30, 1935 ,0 Z. a v// 5 .i w QM W m V V 1| 7 90 a 5 32 Q0 5 r 4 3 T Z e 3m w I 4 9v W a I Q 0/ J Z 35 WW H] a M .U 7.7 6 9. v J Z w x I I, i Q I nm a 3 W M 0 M A 9 5 mA M\\\\ fi z 4 3 a gfw mmam s will,

0a. 11, 1938. RBECK T AL 2,133,073

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING PRESSURE FLUID Filec} Dec. 30, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2' I /Z5 3 62 I V JZ 3 ,1, /Z4 0' 5'9 W av 2\\)///Z5 59" Oct. 11, 1938. R, BECK ET AL I 2,133,073 I METHOD OF ANIZ APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING PRESSURE FLUID I Filed Dec.- 50, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 .ZZzacZ'oZ Beck Jaifaw fzls'coe Oct. 11, 1933. R. BECK ET AL 2,133,073

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING PRESSURE FLUID Filed Dec. 50, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 UNITED STA Patented Oct. ll, 1938 "PATENT OFFICE Application December 30, 1935, semi No. 56,658 1 Claims. (or. 137-521) This invention pertains; to a method of and apparatus for regulating and controlling the pressure fluid in a system embodying fluid pressure generators or other: containers, for example, boilers, superheaters, or oil. stills, the present application for Letters Patent being. a continuation-in-partof our copending application Serial. No, 111,162, filed February .14, 1934, now Patent No; 2,059,722,-granted. Nov. 3, 1936. In its more specific aspects the invention is concerned with a novel arrangementandconstruction of valves, including a control valve" or valves designed. automatically topopen and. close in response to 'a predeterminedenergy characteristicof the pressure: fluid,.specifically to :the temperature of the fluid. In the patentto Carl H. Graesser, No.

1,951,049, dated March 13, 1934,-there is disclosed and. broadly claimed a pressure'system' of the kind ,to 'which the presentyinvention relates and.

which the present invention is a specificim provement. Y f

.Under certain conditions ofmodern steam prac tic'e, as well as in. other situations, very high temperatures and pressures are encountered. L

, trolvalve making it readily possible to obtain a very low blow down, of the main relief valve Whilemost automatic relief or safety valves. open and close inresponse to variations" inpressure in the fluid, there are some-"situations in which abnormal temperature rise. is vmore important than an excess pressure'indetermining the open.-

30 ingot the relief, valve. Such a situation is found,

for example, in the operation of steam superheaters, wherein the pressure fluid in the superheater does not follow the ordinary pressure-temperature relation for a saturated vapor, and

' wherein, unless proper precautions beftaken, the

temperature may rise to a point at which the" metal wall-s of the-superheater may soften and yield. It is'manifest, that in dealing with steam at. the high pressure now commonly generated,

and particularly when the steam is superheated, it'is very desirable to employ a safety or relie'ff valve having a low blowdown, since excess blow-' peratures, are well known to those skilled. in'

the art, and to avoid these difficulties, it is pro than pressure responsive means, in controlling the pressure fluid in the system. vVlliththis object in view, the present invention provides imposed, in accordance with the-present invention! employ thermally responsive means, rather proved valve means designed to respond to variations in. temperaturerather. than. variations in pressure. of the working fluid and by such responselto open-a relief valve on the superheater; it provides :fonsuch. control of the relief valve without-recourse toi'electrical apparatus; and

provides control valve means of sensitive type buts'o devisedas to becapable of withstanding exposure to high temperature andpressure without substantial-injury.

, Withtheseand other. objects which will be made manifest; intheemore detailed description,

the invention comprises, among other things, thermal motor means comprising a motor element (for example, a bimetallic couple) which is sensitively resD,0nsive to 7 temperature change and which, byresponding toa predetermined temperature condition, opensor permits to close a. valve which controls a fluid passage. This controlgvalve may, for example, be employed for controlling (directly or indirectly) theQperation of a main relief valve of the pressure-loaded type having aback pressure chamber provided with a restricted inletthe thermally responsive conwithou-t sacrifice of capacity.

In the accompanying drawings, herein we have illustrated one desirable embodiment of the invention by way of example,-

isa vertical section illustrating one type oi thermally responsive valve device useful directlyiuponthesuperheater;, or other container in which veryhi'glrtemperaturesare encountered;

2 1 plan view o-f the device of Fig. 1,

with the..casing'in;section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and with certain parts broken away;

..Fig, 3 is an. end elevation, partly broken away and in vertical section, looking form the righthand, side. of Fig. 1;

' Fig. 4 is a vertical section illustrating a highly sensitive form of thermally responsive valve device useful, iorexample on a steam generator drum, where the temperatures are not as great as are encountered on a superheater; I

i Fig. 5'is a section on line 55 of 4;

6' is a' vertical section, through a relayvalve deviceuseiul in association with the valves of Figs. land 4;

Fig.7 is a vvertical section illustrating one de' sir-able type of pressure loaded relief or main safety valve designed for-association with and to be controlled in its operation by the valve means (if-Fig.1; I i I 8 1s diagrammatic view illustrating a boiler and superheater provided with a set of valves such as illustrated in Figs. 1, 4, 6 and Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view to larger scale;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating a modified and preferred form of thermally responsive valve; a

Fig. 11 is'a fragmentary vertical section, to smaller scale, on the tine ll| l' OfFig. 10; and.

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the use of the device of Fig. 10 forthe control of a relief valve.

In the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate one desirable form of control valve Z. In these views, the numeral l designates a portion of; the shell of a boiler,isuperheater, oil-still or other receptacle or container for pressure fluid. This shell has an internally screw-threaded opening for the reception of the screw-threaded nipple 2 having the enlarged head portion 3. When employed in high pressure installations, the screw-threaded part 2 may obviously be replaced by a standard flange integral with the head portion 3. The head 3 of the nipple is hollow and is furnished with an'intcrnalconical seat surface 4 designed to make a fluid-tight joint with a similar conicalsurface at the lower of a sleeve 5. sleeve is provided with a shoulder at 6 for engagement by the inner. 'endof a bushing -1 having screw-threaded en-' gag'ement with the threaded inner wall of the nipple head 3. By means of this bushing 'l'the sleeve 5 may be clamped down in steam-tight relation to the seat surface '4 of the member 3.

'At its lower end the sleeve 5 is furnished with l a recess which receives'the upper end of a tube 8.

The upper 'end 'of-this tube is fixed within the recess, for example by welding, brazing, screw,- threading, or in any other desired manner. This sleeve 8 extends downwardly through the nipple 2 and into the .pressure -fluid 'spaceof the superheater or other receptacle, and at its lower end is' flxedly united to a'rod 9. This rod maybe se cured to thetube 8 at itslower end by means of "wleding, brazing, or other appropriate connecting means, and the rod extends up through the sleeve 5 and projects from the upper end of the latter; passing through an annular guide flange I l at the upper end of the sleeve" 5. The tube 8 and the rod!) are made of matcn'alsfor'example,bronze and steel, respectively, having quite different coefficients of expansion in response to temperature" change. The tube 8 has a higher c'oefiicient than the rod 9, so' thatwhen these parts are subjected V to increasing temperature. the different rates. of

expansion of the tube 8 and the rod 9 causes the rod 9 'to' move bodily downward, "while decrease in temperature causes a reverse movement, the

parts 8 and 9 thus constituting arthiermal motors Theupper end of thesleeve 5 has a screwthreaded engagement with an opening in a downwardly directed boss [0, preferably forming an integral part of the lower wall [3 of the housing of a control valve Z. This housing may be made g of any suitable material, for example cast-iron or bronze, and comprises'the' cover member M which is removable from the base portion. 7 g

The upper end of the rod 9 is screw threaded and has screw threaded engagement with a screwthreaded bore in a block l5, a lock nut l5 being provided for retaining the parts in assembled rela 70 tion. The block I5 is furnished with a slotat its 7 upper end and this slot receives a plate l6 which is preferablyheld in assembled relation to the block l5 by means of a cotter pin ll passing through aligned holes in the block- Hand in the plate l6, This piate I6 is also furnished with a fastening connectionsi rocker 2|.

a saove slot in its upper edge for the reception of the end of a flexible motion-transmitting element l8. This element may, for example, consist of a piece of thin spring steel ribbon, its lower end being permanently united to the plate It by brazing or the like, or by clamping screws or other suitable The flexible element [8 passes up and around an arcuate surface at the left-hand end (as viewed in Fig. 1) of a This rocker may consist of a casting, or may be otherwise shaped in any appropriate way'from suitable material, and has at its under side a pocket for the reception of a ball 22. This ball may be of'hard steel, such for example as a ,bearing baILand'preferably rests upon a wearresistant plate 23, for example, of nitrided or other hard'steel or the like disposed in a suitable slot or groove in a crossbar 24, which is secured to the upper edge of a Web forming a part of the bottom member of the housing. The transverse,

stiifness of the steel ribbon l8 prevents lateral tilting of the part 2| on the single point support provided by ball 22;

, The rocker 2| supports one end' of a lever 26 which is of resilient material, such as spring steel. The upper part of the flexible transmitting member !8, after passing over the arcuate surface 20, is turned down onto the upper surface of the upper end portion of lever 26, and the several parts are fixedly united to therocker 2| by means of a clamping plate 27 and bolts 28;

The free extremity of thelonge'r arm oflever 2 is preferably disposed a substantially horizontal plane, under normal conditions, as shown at 28, and is supported or limited inits downward movement by an adjustable stop member 30 having screw-threaded engagement withia boss 3| projecting up from the member l3. Near its free end, the lever 28 is furnished with an internally screw-threaded sleevemember 32 having a substantially vertical axis and which receives an 'ad-- justable contact member This contact member is disposed immediately beneath and normally engages the lower end of a valve lifter member 34, which extends downwardly from the control orexhaust valve feather 35. This valve. feather comprises a hollow body portion 35 which receives the lower end of a val ve loading rod This ioadingrodis preferably furnished with a pair of cylindrical enlargements 38 adapted to slide With? 7 a vertical bore in 'a' guide cap 39, the upper end of which houses the valve loading spring 40, one

end of. which bears against the-inner surface of the cap'and the other end of which bears onthe upper end ofthe loading rod 38. Since the lever arm to which the movement of the member I8 is applied is relatively short, such movement is multiplied as applied to the valve lifter 34.

The cap 39 is screw threaded at its lower end and engages a threaded opening in the valve block 4|, which is removably secured in place bymeans of bolts M The cover member I4 is secured to the block by a screw 42. This blockis fur- 'nished with a chamber t3 communicating by means ofa passage 44 witha screw-threaded socket adapted to receive the screw-threaded end of a pipe 45,leading from a sourceof supply 3 of pressure fluid as hereinafter more fully described. a I V I The lower part of the block 4| is furnished with a screw-threaded bore axially aligned with the opening whichreceives the cap 39, and this bore receives the screw-threaded sleeve-like upper part 46 of a valve seat member which is furnished near its lower end with the annular seat surface 43 may then extend directly to the'boiler or other with which the valve feather 35 normally cooperates. When seated, the valve feather closes the passage through the valve seat which connects the chamber 43 with an exhaust passage 49.

The passage 49 extends transversely through a member 48, preferably a casting, which may he secured within the housing by means of the aforementioned bolts M the exhaust passage leading out to one side of the housing and terminating for example at the point 50 (Fig. 2)

If this control valve device Z. thus far described, be employed as the relief valve proper, the pipe container for the pressure fluid. However, for the purposes above mentioned, we prefer to employ the valve heretofore described merely as a control valve to determine the opening and closing of a relief valve of large capacity, and pref- 1 erably of the pressure loaded type.

In'Fig. 8 we have illustrated one desirable ar rangement wherein thevalve device Z just: described is mounted on a delivery pipe D leading from the outlet end ofa superheater S to a main M. The superheater receives. pressure fluid from a generator 'G, for example, a steam boiler, through a pipe P leading from a'header H con-. nected to the boiler. As hereshown, the delivery pipe is furnished withQa relief valve V of large capacity and of the pressure loaded type. a

In Fig. 7 we have illustrated, by way of ex-" ample, one desirable formof relief valve.-This valve V comprises a casing having a flange 5|;

by means of which it may be attachedto a suitable fitting on pipe D. A passage 52-concentric with flange 5| leads up into a chamber 53 within the body of the casing. A transverseweb 54 extends through the chamber 53 and supports a sleeve provided with the annular valve seat 55 surrounding the passage 56, which in turn opens. into the exhaust passage 51 formed in the part within the web 54,-and which extends laterallyout to one side of the casing, where it'may open to the atmosphere or be continuedthrough any suit-' able pipe or conduit to a desired pointof-dis charge.

'The upper sliding contact with the-hollow skirt portion 59.

of the combined piston and valve feather 6 5.- This skirt portion of the valve feather has a peripheral surface adapted'to make steam-tight;

contact with the seat 55. The interior of the skirt portion of the valve feather, together with the upper part of. the casing,'forms a chamber 52 for pressure fluid above the ,valve .65, the space 52 constituting aback pressurechamber whose lower wall is movable. A restricted bleeder pas- V sage 6| leads through a wall of this chamber from the space 53. The valve casing is furnished.

with a cover 53 suitably secured' by'bolts. (not shown), andthis cover has a passage 34' communicatingat one end with the back pressure chamber 62. The cover is also furnished with a boss $3 having a pair of screw-threaded sockets and 65 communicating with the passage 64.

The socket 65 receives the screw threaded end of the pipe 45. Alternatively,-instead of a passage such as 6! through a Wall of the chamberythe' valve skirt 59 may be made loose enough to pro-1 vide a Very narrow annular leak passage between it and the guide sleeve 58.

The valve parts are so designed -anddimenpart of. the casing is furnished with an annular guide sleeve 58 of somewhatlarger internal diameter than passage 5 5-and which may, if desired, be of some wear-resistant mate rial and accurately machined toprovide aproper sioned that when. pressure fluid, entering. through the passage 52, fills the space 53, a portion of it enters through the bleeder opening BI and fills the space 62 and exerts a somewhat greater pressure on the upper sideof the valve feather than is exerted :by ,thefluidin'the space 53 against the lower side of the valve feather. The valve feather ingmeans are necessary. However, if the pressure in the chamber 52 be relieved, as by allowing pressure fluid to flow rapidly therefrom, then the effective pressure on the upper side of the valve is thus normally held against its seat by the pres-- sure fluid alone, so that no springs or other loadbecomes less than that on the lower side, and

the valve opens very quickly to full capacity.

The generator Gimay be provided with a safety valve or valves T-of usual type As here shown, it is also furnished with a control valve-K which, in certain details is'somewhat difierent from the control valve Z1 The valve K is illustrated in detail in Figs. 4 and 5.

"This valve K comprises a casing having a body portion 65 and a removable cover 61. The bottom of the casing has downwardly directed hollow boss or .nipple 68 which may have a screwwhich leads into the chamber or space "within the body of the casing of the valve K. At the upper end of the bore H. an annular flange H constitutes a support for the upper end of a tube 15 whichpasses-freely down through the bore H The upper endof'the tube is fixedly secured, as by brazing, screw-threading, or the like, to the flange 14. Within this tube is arranged a rod '16 whichextends -freely through the tube but which'is securely united. to the lower end of the tube T5 at the point 11 by means of brazing, screw threading, orthe like. The parts 15 and 16,'as

thus'arranged, constitute a bimetallic thermostatic, device, the tube I5 being of a material which expands more rapidly, when heated, than doesthe material of the rod 16. These parts may be made of the same materials mentioned as useful in the construction of'thebimetallic thermostat 8, Sof the device of Fig. I. a

The rod 15 projects up into the chamber 13 of thecasing and has attached thereto a transverse substantially horizontal bar 18' (Fig; 5'). At its opposite'ends this bar carries a pair of spacer sleeves I9 which support a-yoke member 80, the parts being united by bolts 81 passing through I thesleeve '19 and havingscrew-threaded engagement with the bar 18. The yoke member 851s furnished with a screw-threaded opening which receives a'bolt 82' having a head 83. This head fits within a socket 84 similar to that of asocket wrench, the socket 84 having a stem 85 provided with a polygonal head 85 adapted to receive a -Wrench or other tool whereby the stem with its socket maybe turned. The stem 85 passes up through astuflinggbox in a hollow. boss 81 projecting from the cover 51, such stuffing box including a gland lia adapted to compress suitable packing material to prevent leakage of pressure fluid longitudinally of the stem. A cap 89, which may besecuredin place by 'a'wire seal passing through opening 90, normally houses the upper endofthestem85.

, The inner wall of the body 96 of the casing is furnished with a ledge at 9I having a recess which receives two bearingballs 92 spaced apart less than the width ofthe lever 93 which they support. These'balls arev not movable and form a fulcrum for one end of the lever 93. The latter is of resilient material and is arranged within the chamber F3 in normally substantial horizontal lever 93 and supports a ball 99 disposed Within the 7 opening 94 and held in proper position by a vertical portion of a leaf spring 95 secured to block 99. The lower end of the screw 82 is normally spaced slightly from-this ball. By turning the screw 82 (by means of the socket-wrench device 86) the temperature at which the screw 92 will begin to exert pressure on ball .99 and lever 93 may be predetermined. Since the member 99 is but a short distance from the fulcrum 92, any motion of the thermostatic device is multiplied in being transmitted to the Valve, now to be described.

At normal temperatures the lower end of screw 8.2 does not engage ball 99 and the resilient lever and 92 bythe leaf spring 95 whose function is merely to keep the lever in proper operative position. Under normal conditions the balls I99 and 99 are positioned by the spring elements. I I9 and 95 respectively so that the centers of the balls are on the vertical axes of the parts I96 and 82 respectively. Whengthe 1 temperature rises and screw 82 begins to press downwardly on the ball 99, thelever 93 is flexed downwardly in an arc, the balls 92 forming a fixed fulcrum adjacent to one end of the lever; If it were not for the balls I99 and 99, interposed between the lever 93 and 1 the parts I I I and 92, respectively, and which reduce the friction between the engaging parts to a ,minimum, such flexing of the lever (which results in aslight: lateral shiftingof the contact points of the balls) would result insubstantial, friction thereby' lessening the delicacy of opera-4 tion. In particulanjsuch friction would tend to,

develop side pressure of the member I96 against its guides such as would prevent valve I92 from seating accurately,,with consequent leakage of steam and rapid wear of the valve seat.

The upper part of the casing 68 is furnished .with a chamber I99 from which a passage, de-

fined by an'annularvalve seat I9I, leads into chamber 173. A controlor dischargevalve feather I92 normally engages the seat Iflla'nd is furn-.

' ished'with astem I93 which projects up through the top of the casing. This stem is surrounded by a light coiled spring I94 which may be adjustably tensioned by means of a nut I95 engaging the upper end of the stem I93.

mallyholds the valve feather in contact with its seat.

' The valve feather I2 is furnished with a cylindrical head Illfifwhich slides in a bore in a rib I91 on the wall of the casing. This head I06 is furnished with a verticallyelongated slot I98 which receives the free end 'of the lever 93. This free end of the lever normally rests on a ball bearing Hi9 which is conveniently retained in position by a downturned end portion I I9 of the spring 95, and which rests upon the upper end; of anadis'held loosely in contact with the balls I99 This spring, assisted by the fiuid pressure iii-chamber 13, norjusting screw I I I ma. threaded bore in the lower end of head I96. The head of screw III is disposed within a chamber II2 to which'access may be had by means of a removable plug I I3.

The casing has a screw-threaded opening H4 in its bottom wall, and also has a screw-threaded socket I I 5 leading from the chamber I99. A pipe III leads from the latter socket to a screwthreaded socket H8 in the lower, part 'I I9 of a casing of an exhaust valve R (Figsrfi and 8). This second exhaust or relay valve, or its equivalent, is provided for use with the valve device of' Fig. 4, since it protects the temperature sensitive elements of the latter from contact with fluid at superheater temperature, and also permits the use of the inwardly opening valve I92 and avoidance of parts passing through stuffing boxes or equivalent friction producing elements.

This exhaust valve casing is furnished with a chamber I29 at its upper part within which slides the cylindrical head portion I2I of a relay or exhaust valve feather I22 disposed within a chamber I2I near the central part of. the casing. This exhaust valve feather cooperates with an annular valve seat I23 defining a passage connecting the chamber I2 I and a discharge passage I24 in thelower part of the casing. Within this latter chamber slides a hollow cylindrical piston member I26. The interior of this piston, together with the lower part of casing I I 9, forms a chamber for pressure fluid, and a restricted bleeder'passage i526 leads through the piston,

of saturated steam or vapor '(not superheated) approximately at boiler pressure. The exhaust valve casing also has a threadedsocket I29'communicating with the-chamber I2I and from this socket a pi'pe I39 leads to the socket 915* of the main relief valve V. a

' By employing the control valve'K in combination with the control valve Z. shown in Fig. l, and in the combination illustrated in Fig. 8, it is possible to cause the relief valve V to blow in response to excess temperature, either in the discharge pipe D from the superheater or in the generator G itself. Assuming that the bimetallic thermostat of the valve K has been designed to respond to a predetermined abnormal tempera ture in the generator G, and assuming that all of the other "valves are closed, it may be noted that steam from .the' generator normally fills the chamber I3 and forces valve feather I92 against its seat IN, and keeps all of the valve parts at a substantially uniform temperature and pressure during normal operation of the generator. However, if the generator temperature rises abnoreventually the vforce exerted by the free end of the lever 93. is sufiicient to slightly overbalance the steam pressure on valve I92 plus the pull of spring I94. 'As soon as the valve is slightly off its through the pipe I I1 into the space below the piston I26 of the exhaust'valve R. The space 13 and pipe I I! constituting parts of a conduit leading from the generator to the exhaust valve device R. This valve has previously been heldtoits seat by fluid at substantially generator pressure in the chamber I20 delivered through the pipe I28. However, when the piston I26 is exposed to generator pressure by the opening of valve I02, the valve I22 is raised, it being noted that thepisto'n I26 is of greaterv diameter than the piston III. Pressure fluid is thus permitted to flow'from the back pressure chamber 62' through the pipe I30 into the chamber I2 I of the'exhaust valve, thence through the valve seat I23 and into the exhaust passage I25. The main valve 60 is now unseated by reason of the unbalanced pres'surebeneathjit, and the valve opens wide to permit escape of pressure fluid very rapidly from the generator.

Obviously, from the construction described, the relief valve V will blow whenever the temperature, either in the generator itself or in the superheater delivery pipe D, exceeds a predetermined are of highly sensitive character such that they may readily be set to respond to a temperature variation within a range of 25 F. and it will be noted that whichever of the controlvalves'oper ates first, the relief valve V, in responding, will draw steam from the superheater so that there is no possibility that the latter will become overheated by failure of a proper flow of fluid therethrough. 'By the use of the exhaust valve R in association with control valve K; itis possible to obtain greater 'sensitiveness of operationat the relatively low temperaturesto which the valve K is-exposed," sincethe thermostatic device is only required to open the delicately loaded valve 'device I02, whereupon'fluid at generator pressure Assuming that the valve 60 is closed, and that thevalves 35, I02 and I22 are also closed, if the temperature of the pressure fluid within thesuperheater rises above a'predetermined point, the tube 8 expands, thus drawing the rod 9 down- 7 wardly and pulling on the fiexible'element I8. The pull on this element tends to tip the rocker member 2| about the fulcrum provided by the roller 22, but such movement is opposed by the action of the spring 40 andby the pressure fluid in chamber 43, which normally tend to hold the valve 35 against its seat and with the member 34 engaging the member 33." However, after the member 8 has'expanded in response to the at-,

tainment of a predetermined temperature, the .resilient lev'er'26 'will have beenstressed thereby, and will havestored'up energy. Eventually,

the force exerted by the lever willbecomegreat enough to unseat the valve slightly. As soon as pressure fluid begins-to escape between the valve and its .seat, the fluid. pressure'above the valve is reduced; and the stored-up energy of the spring will suddenly open the valve to its full extent so as to permit pressure fluid from the chamber 62 to exhaust through the pipe 45, thence through the valve seat 41 and out through the passage 49. This at'once enables the'iinbalanced fluid pressure to open the main valve 60 so that pres- I sure fluid is discharged very rapidly from the superheater delivery pipe D, thus maintaining a rapid flow of fluid through the supeiheater which will reduce. the temperature in the superheater and if the discharge capacity of the valve is selected properly in relation to the heating capacity of the superheater burner, the superheaterwill be maintained at a safe temperature. When the temperature has been lowered," the tube 8 contracts, allowing the member I8'to riseand thus permits'the spring .40 to restore the exhaustvalve'35 to its seat; Pressure immediately ,of proper relative length, the exhaust valve 35,

and. hence the relief valve 60, may be made to open at substantially any desired temperature. It will-.be noted that only the part 8 is exposed to the maximum pressure and temperature conditions within'thesuperheater, and. that by the time the pressure fluid has passed through the chamber 53 and through the chamber 62 and thence to'the chamber 43 of the control valve, its temperature will have dropped to such an extent that injury to the parts of the control valve byexcess temperature need not be feared.

By the useof the motion-transmitting member I8 all movable joints between. the thermally responsive element and the leverlfi are eliminated,so that there is no lost motion between these parts, and thus the operation of the controlvalve is very accurate anddependable. Since, as above noted, the parts of the control valve, with the exception of the part 8, are not exposed to the pressure fluid at high temperature, they do notrapidly deteriorate and are capable of performing theirintended function over along period of time without repairs. The proper working of the lever arrangements'in both valve designs-Fig.1 and Fig. l depends on proper dimensioning of the resilient levers. A. numerical example will indicatethe method by which suitable dimensions 1 may be determined. Suppose valve 35 has an effective seating area of .10 square inch and is used-for 500 lbs. per square inch pressure and requires a 6 inch lift for operating valve 60. Further, spring 40 may exert a. pressure of" lbs. The steam pressure on .10 square inch ls 50 lbs. making a total of 60 lbs. Resilientlever fl should then be designed so that wither-load of 60 lbs. at point 33 it will deflect at least 1 inch. -i v "'Itw'illbenoted also, that figuring on 60 lbs. at the outside end of the lever 25, anda lever I ratio of 1':5-, the pull at I8 has tobe about 300 lbs. and the load on ball.22 is 360 lbs. This will indicate-to anyone versed in the art thereason for avoiding plainorpivot bearings and using rolling bearings throughout. Knife-edge bearrings, oi course, might be used, but the ball-roller transmission as indicatedhas the advantage, of lower cost and less wear.

7 The valve device illustrated in Fig. 1 is primarily designed .for superheater protection-or other uses. where high accuracy is not'necesis so smalla percentage of the total tem- Iperature. e i r v While the device of Fig. l is useful for the purpose and under the conditions above described and may be preferable in such situations in view of its'simpliclty, cheapness, and the ready ac- .cessibility of the operating parts, the valve device of Fig. 4 is more useful under other conditions (for exarnple where great accuracy in operatiori is required) and ifdesired may be substituted for the device of Fig. l in such a, systern as that illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. The device of Fig. 4' is intended tu controi} pressure, in response to the equivalent t aporrtemperature and is accurate to Within 2 or 3 F. It thus may be used, for example, tocontrol the blowing of a boiler working at 500' lbs. pressure and, with ablovvdown of clnly 10 lbs. since such a blowdown corresponds to a change in vapor temperature of only 2 F. In the arrangement shown in Figi' 5 all of the operating parts are kept at substantially the same temperature by immersion in; saturated vapor substantially at a boiler pressure so that changes in outside temperature do not appreciably aifect'the operation of the device. Inthis device the casing or housing 66 must be steam tight and heavy enough to sustain the boiler pressure. If {the device of. Fig. 4 is to be substituted for that of Fig. 1 in the system shown in Figs B and 0, the passage," isiclosed and the pipe 45 is connected to the casing H5, and the opening ;at II4 would constitute the discharge. 7 I 71 A preferred form of thermally responsive controlling device, useful, in place of that illustrated in Fig. 1, and; a'daptedto' be used either in combination with or in place of a controller 7 like that of Fig. 4, in a system such as illustrated in'Figs. 8 and 9, or which may be used alone is shown in detailin Fig. 10. This control valve device Q is especially designed to insure accu-' racy of operation" in: spite of the widefluctuations of temperature to which it is subjected, to reduce friction between the moving parts, and to provide a controlvalve of wide utility.

Referring. to the construction illustrated in Fig. 10, the numeral l3l designates the base member or attaching flange of the improved 7 controller device, such flange preferably being ast'andard flange adapted to be'secured by bolts :1 65 or the like to a'complemental flange on a fitting formingfpart of -a pressure; fluid container, for

example; the delivery pipe-;D (Fig. 8) leading from a superheaterzsg However, it is to beunderstood that this: improved controller, device may be attached to fluid pressure containers of other types for example, directly to a generator sue-has the generatorG of Fig; 8. Thebase or V flange member .ii l is integral with an upright portion I32 having a substantially cylindrical vertical bore I33 adapted. to communicate at its lower end theinterior of the pressure fluid container withwhich the device is associated, such bore I33: forming a chamber for the reception of pressure fluid. 'The upper, end of this bore is defined. by a'flange E34 integral with the member, I32 and within which is snugly fitted a long, depending tube I35 of a metalvlhich has a relatively high coeflicientiof expansion, for

example brass orsorne other alloy especially designed to expand rapidly when subjected to increase in temperature. This tube I35 is welded or otherwise permanently unitedso as to forrn a leak=tight joint at the point I36 to the flange I34 and extends downwardly to the chamber I33 and to a substantial distance below the lower surface of the flange I3I so as to reach well into the pressure fluid'in the container. Within the lower end-of this tube there is arranged a cylinder I31 of a material having a relatively low coefiicient oi expansion as compared with the tube I35, and this cylinder is preferably welded or otherwise secured at I38 to the lower end of the .tube so as to close such lower end against the entry of pressure fluid. Preferably the cylinder I3I'terminates' at a point below the lower surface of the flange member BI and secured to its upper end is a cylinder or tube I preferably of a metal'having a coefficient of expansion similar to that: of the tube I35. The parts I40 and I4; may be united by a weld I4I or E46 projects upwardly beyond the upper end of the tube i35 into a chamber formed by a casing I 42 which is secured to the upperjpart of the member I32 by means of bolts I431 or the like; the. upper surface of the member I32 forming the floor of this chamber. I V v The upper end (it? the member I 40 is reduced in diameter to provide a shoulder upon which rests 'a yoke member I44 which issecured to the member I 40 by screwthreading the upper end of the latter and applying thereto a clamping nutwhich rests upon the upper-surface of the member I44. The member I44 projects at opposite sides ofthe member I40 and is provided near its opposite ends upright posts I45 which carry a bridge piece I46. This bridge piece has a screw-threaded opening at its center in axialalignment with the member I40 and this screwethreaded opening receivesthe adjusting screw I41. Thiss'crew has a cylindrical head which fits loosely within the; lower end of a sleeve I48 to which it is pivotaily secured by means of a loose rivet I43, the sleeve I48 being free to rock slightly with reference to the screw. Near its upper end the sleeve I48 has a transverse pin I50 extending at right angles to the rivetv I49 and which passes through a. transverse slot in the lower end of a rotary'member I5I which turns in'a bearing opening in theupper wall of the casing I42. 'The member I5i projects beyond the top wall of 'theicasing and is provided with a'k no b l52 by means of which it may be turned thereby? to turn the screw I47. Preferably this knob I52: is'disposed Within a housing cap I53 screw threaded or otherwise attached to the casing I42 and which may be lockedtc prevent surreptitious manipulation of i the knob I52 by any suitable means, for example the wire and seal I54. ,3

The base member I 32 is provided with an overhanging portion I55 having a substantially horitaining pressure fluid and from which such pressure fluid is on occasion to be released' From the chamber I56 a vertical bore I51 leads upwardly to the upper surface of the member I32,

such bore being enlarged near its upper end and internally screw threaded for the receptioncf I end at the point I88 to the lever I84 and its opthe lowerend of a valve seatIme mber I58 'having. a conical valve seat I59 defining apassag'e leading from the bore I51 to a chamber I60 within the valve seat member. From this chamber I60 one or more openings I6I lead to a chamber I62 within a casing I63 secured by bolts 163 to the upper surface of the member I32;

The upper portion of the seat member l58' fits snugly within'an opening in the upper wall of the casing member I63 and is providedwith a vertical bore in axial alignment with the seat: opening I59. This bore receives the sliding stem member I65 of a conical valve feather I155 which cooperates withthe seat I59 so as normally to prevent the flow of pressure fluid from the chamber I51 to the chamber I60. Preferably this stem I65 is provided with circumferential grooves to provide a fiuid'seal, and at its upper end is reduced in'diameter to provide the neck portion I66 which projects up above the top surface of the casing member I63 and which has a head or enlargement I61 'atiits upper end.

"The inner casing member I63 is provided with an upwardly extending portion providing a chamber IBilimmediately above the upper end of the stem member I65, such chamber being open at one side as indicated at I69. Above the chamber I68the casing member I63 is continued as a substantially cylindrical'guidemember I16 having acylindricaI borein axial alignment'with thevalve seat I69 and-within which bore slides an actuator member I1I preferably having cylindrical enlargements near its upper of the'member I10 and normally bears against the upper end of the member I1.I. therebyto limit the upward movement of the latter in respouse to the spring I14. 1

Atits lower end the member I1I is provided with. an enlarged headportion I16. having an upper member I11 disposed vertically above the valve stem member I65. The head I16 is also provided with a lower member I18 which is slotted to receive the-neck portion I66 of the valve stem- I: Immediatelyabovethe head I61 of the valve stem there is arranged a block I19 secured to the head I16 but with a slight clearance between the under surface of the block and the head I61 when the parts are in normal .posie 9 tion, that is to say, when the valve is closed. The block I19 is provided on its upper facewith a horizontally elongate V-shapedgroove I which receives a motion-transmitting .ball I8 I At the opposite side of the casing I42 there are provided two fixed post's I82 secured'in any de-v sired manner to the member I32 and having at theiruppr ends cavities for the reception of balls I82 which form the fulcrum for one end of a flexible resilient lever member I84. This lever is provided in itsupper surface with'an elongat V-shaped groove I85 against the walls of which bears a ball I66-wwhich is held within a cavity in the lower end of the adjusting screw I41. A thin flexible spring member I81 is secured at one posite end is'bent upwardly and forked and has its forkedendmesting upon the member I46 on the opposite-sides of the. adjusting screw I41; This spring forms a resilient support for the long arm I of the lever.

The opposite end I90 of the lever rests upon the ball I 8| and the latter is preferably limited in its movements by a spring member 'I9I secured tothe under side of the lever. Preferably the surface of the lever which engages the ball IIH andthesurface which rests upon the ball I83 are in substantially the same plane 'asthe points of contact of the ball I86swith the side walls of the 'v gr oove I85.

The overhanging'portion I55 of the member I32 is provided with a vertical bore I92 leading down from-the chamber I62 and into a horizontal bore I96-which, if desired, may be screw threaded for they reception of an exhaust pipe leading to any desired point. However. this pipe maybe dispensed with if preferred, the pressure fluid'being allowedto exhaust directly from the end- 0f the bore I93 into the atmosphere.

Preferably, in order-toremove any condensate which might 'collect in the interior ofthe cas-. ing I42, there is provided a drain opening I94 leading to a 'socketin which may be screwed a drain pipe -I95.1eading' to any, desired point of discharge. Preferably astop screw I96 is screwed into a threaded opening in the upper part of the casing I63,withits'head immediately beneath the long arm'I 90 of. the lever I84 so as to limit downward movement ofsaidiarm. The "screw' I15 is adjusted by the maker to videa'clearanoe, preferably of the order of 0.002

inch between the under surface of block 7 I19 and the upper surface of the head I61 of'the valve stem'when the valve feather I65 is seated and thetop'of the actuator guide I1I is in contact'with'thescrewI15. There-is also a clearance of the order of 0.002 inch betweenthe .under surface of the head I61 and the top surface 'of the slotted member I18 when the valve is seated. 6

' In the operation of this device, and assuming that it is so arranged as to take the place of the controller device Z of Figs. 8 and 9,.and assuming that th'e'pipe 45 of Fig. 9leads to the bore I56 of the controller Q, and assuming that the valve I65 is closed against its seat I59, the parts will remain in this position until the temperature in the pressure fluid container reaches the point. at which the relief valve V is designed to blow. When .the'temperature substantially reaches this point the tube I35 will have so elongated as to cause'the part I46, together with the adjusting screw 141,, toy move downwardly thereby press ing the ball I 86 against the lever I84, causing the" latter to flex and thus store up energy.

When thelever has been bent to a certain degree in response to the continued elongation of the tube 135,; the end I90 of the lever will press so forciblyagainst the ball I8I as to move the latter downin opposition. to the spring I14, closing the gap between the lower surface of the block- I19 and the head I61 of the valve stem and eventually unseating the" valve I'65-very's1ightly from the seat I59, the back pressure inthe' space I51 being the sole leading means that normally keeps the feather tight against its seat. As soon as the 'valve..l65 leaves its seat, the pressure I fluid in the back pressure chamber 62 of the relief valve V escapes through the valve seat I59 to such an extent that the pressure beneath. valve .feather I65 -is very substantially lowered; the

' differential expansion.

chamber I62and communicating passages being of limited capacity. Immediately, upon such substantial lowering of the back pressure against the under surface .ofthe valve feather ll65 the stored-up energy of theresilient lever I64 snaps the valve open to its fullest extent, whereupon the pressure in the chamber I62 drops suddenly to just below the amount required to permit the main valve feather 60-to open. This condition is i to cause the stem to bind-in its guideway. By arranging the contact. ball I86 at the lower end of the screw I41 with provision for-turning the screw from a point outside of the casing, it is possible readily and quickly to calibrate the controlling device so as to operate accurately at the desired temperature, while :the useof balls as the contact elements between the lever and the other parts assures .a substantially frictionless transmission of the considerable forces involved. The bore I33provides a jacket forlthe upper part of the tube I35 so that a substantial length of the latter is always subjected to the pressure fluid. Preferably, "all of the active structure within thebase and the casing I42, for example,- the parts I40, I44, I45, I46, etc., are made of the same material or of one having the same coefficient of expansion as the tube I35, so that as the temperature of the base I32 suddenly rises when t e valve I65 opens and high temperature pressure fluid enters thespaces I56, I62 and M3, the operative parts'all expand at substantially. the same rate, thus avoiding inaccuracies due to After the valve has opened and the temperature of the pressure fluid in the container has dropped, the endISi) of lever I84 rises and spring H4 gradually moves the valve feather I65 toward its seat. When the valve feather is still 0.002 inch from its seat, the actuator part I18 is stopped by the "screw I and thereafter, increasing fluid pressure beneath the valve feather I65 seats the latter without opposition from the .actue ator parts. The stop screw-I96 is so adjusted by the maker that when lever I84 has been filexed to a maximum extent and contacts with the stop screw, the valve feather 1155? is spaced from its seat by a distance of the order of of an inch. While we have. illustrated desirable embodi-.

.ments of theinvention by way of example, we wish itto be understood that various changes in size, proportion and arrangement of parts, as well asthe substitution of other materials than those specifically mentioned, may bemadewithout departing'from the spirit'ofthe invention Other useful. arrangements mayisuggest themselves. to

those skilled in the art, but we contemplate that all such arrangements as fall within the scope of the appended claims are to be regarded as formin -apart of this invention.

We claim:

l; Inja valve apparatus of the kind whichcomprises a casing having therein "a valve seat defining the outlet to a space in which fluid pressure is normallylmaintained, and a valve feather co- 7 operating with the seat and normally closing said outlet, one side of the valve feather being exposed to the'fluid pressure in said space and its opposite side beingvexposed to a lesser pressure, said valve feather ,being arranged to open against the fluid pressure in said space, in combination, valve lever first flexes before fully unseating the valve feather thereby to store up energy for suddenly opening the valve to full capacity immediately after it begins to leave its seat.

2,; In a relief valve apparatus of the kind which includes a housing havingtherein a valveseat, a main valve feather constituting a movable wall for a fluid chamber otherwise closed except for a restricted fiuidpassage and a duct of relatively greater capacity, and a control device including a control valve feather normally closing said duct, and means guiding said feather to move in a substantially rectilinear path, in combination, valve actuating means comprising amotor device including a movable part; a lever having a short arm and a relatively long arm, means for transmitting movement from, said movable part to the short arm of the lever, and substantially unyielding motion transmitting means interposed between the free end of the long arm of the lever and the control valve feather, said motion trans mitting means including a freely rolling ball movable longitudinally of the lever thereby to avoid cramping of the Valve feather by reason of the arcuate movement of the end of the lever.

B. In a relief valve apparatus of the kind which includes a housing having therein a main valve seat, a main valve feather, and a back pressure chamber having a restricted entrance for pressure fluid and in which sufficient pressure is normally maintained to hold the main valve feather to its seat, and a control device including a rectilinearly reciprocable control valve feather normally closing an exhaust'passage leading from s'ai'cl'back pressure chamber, in combination, valve actuating means comprising a motor device including a reciprocable part, a lever arranged to be swung about'a fulcrum point bymovement of said reciprocable motor partin one direction, and a bearing ball operative to transmit motion from the lever to the control valve feather, said ball beingfreely movable lengthwise of the lever.

4. In a control valve apparatus of the kind in cluding a casingihaving therein a space for pres: sure fluid, a valve feather normally closing a duct of substantial capacity connecting said space with a chamber otherwise closed except for a relatively restricted passageway for 'fluid, and guide means constraining the valve feather. to move Jaxially 'in' a rectilinear path, said valve feather being arranged to open against the pressuregin said: duct, in combination, valve actuating means within the casing comprising a resilient valve opening lever, a motor device, means longitudinally of the lever.

5. Valve actuating means operative to unseat a normally closed valve feather from its seat,

' said actuating means comprising a part provided with a slot, a resilient lever, fixed fulcrum means for the lever, one end of the lever being disposed within the slot in said part, an anti-friction ball disposed between the lever and'an adjacent wall of the slot in said part, the ball being movable along said wall, longitudinally of the lever, and motor means operative to flex the lever thereby to unseat the valve feather.

6. Valve actuating means operative to unseat a normally closed rectilinearly movable, valve feather from its seat, said actuating means ,comprising a motor device including a movable part, a pressure applying ball associated with said part, a lever having a cavity in which the ball rests, a fulcrum for one end of the lever, and substantially unyielding motion-transmitting means interposed between the other end of the lever and the valve feather, said motion-transmitting means comprising a rigid ball arranged for free movement longitudinally of the lever thereby to avoid cramping of the feather by reason of the arcuate movement of the end of the lever.

7. Valve actuating means operative to unseat a normally closed valve feather from its seat, said actuating means comprising a resilient lever, a fulcrum for said lever, one end of the lever being arranged to actuate the valve feather, a spring supported at one end and having its other end bearing upon the lever at a point remote from the fulcrum of the latter, motor means comprising a movable part, and adjustable means actuable' by said movable part and adapted to bear upon the lever at a point intermediate the ends of the latter whereby operation of the motor means is effective to unseat thevalve feather.

8. Actuating means for unseating a normally closed valve feather of the kind having a guiding stem which slides axially in a rigid bearing, said actuating means comprising a movable part provided with an elongate guideway substantially perpendicular to the axis of the stem, a ball free to roll along said guideway, a lever having one end resting on said ball, a'fulcrum for the lever,

and motor means for swinging the lever about its fulcrum.

9. Actuating means for unseating a normally closed valve feather of the kind having a guide stem which slides axially in a rigid bearing and which has ahead at its end, said actuating means having parts disposed above and below said head, stop means operativenormally to po- 7 sition said parts so that they are spaced slightly from the head, the part above the head having a ball support, a ball resting on said support, a lever having one end resting on the ball, a fulcrum for-the lever, and motor means for swinging the lever about its fulcrum thereby to unseat the valve.

10. Actuating means for unseating a normally I closed valve feather of the kind'having a stem which slides axially in a rigid bearing having 'a rectilinear slideway for the stem, said actuating means comprising a movable part having a ball support disposed above the end of the stem, said ball support having a V-groove extending sub- 7 stantially perpendicular to the axis of the stem, a ball in said groove, a lever having one end resting on the ball, a second ball constituting a fulcrum for the lever, and lever actuating motor means comprising a moving part, and a third ball interposed between said latter part and the lever, the points of contact of the several balls with the lever being substantially in the same plane.

11. Valve actuating means operative to unseat a normally closed rectilinearly movable valve feather from its seat, said actuating means comprising a resilient valve opening lever, a pair of spaced balls constituting a two-point fulcrum for said lever adjacent to one end thereof, the other end portion of the lever being arranged to actuate the valve feather, and substantially unyielding motion-transmitting means interposed between the other end of the lever and the valve feather, said motion-transmitting means comprising a rigid ball arranged for free movement longitudinally of the lever thereby to avoid cramping of the valve feather by reason of the arcuate movement of the end of the lever, motor means comprising a movable part, and an antifriction ball interposed between said movable part and the lever and bearing upon a part of 

